Niger’s authorities have declared their intention to take full control of the Somaïr uranium company, ending decades of operation by the French nuclear group Orano. The decision marks a major escalation in an ongoing dispute between the military government in Niamey and French economic interests in the country.
Officials say the move reflects Niger’s determination to exercise sovereignty over its strategic natural resources.
Accusations of Unfair Resource Extraction
In a statement released on Thursday, the government accused Orano of extracting an excessive share of uranium from the Somaïr site and acting in ways it described as unlawful and damaging to Niger’s interests. Authorities said the nationalization decision was taken in response to what they called repeated violations and hostile behavior by a company owned by a foreign state.
While the government did not provide detailed evidence, it insisted that the takeover was justified and carried out in line with national interests.
Long-Running Dispute With Orano
Somaïr is jointly owned by Orano and Niger’s state mining company, Sopamin, and operates the country’s only active uranium mine. Although Orano has been involved in Niger’s uranium sector for more than five decades, relations have sharply deteriorated since the military seized power in 2023.
Last year, Nigerien authorities removed Orano from operational control of Somaïr and revoked its license for the Imouraren uranium project, one of the largest undeveloped uranium deposits in the world. Orano has since launched multiple legal actions, including arbitration cases and a lawsuit linked to the disappearance of one of its senior staff members and searches of its offices.
Broader Shift Away From Western Partners
The nationalization fits into a wider strategy by Niger’s military leadership to reassess foreign involvement in key sectors. Since taking power, the authorities have pledged to reduce dependence on Western countries and renegotiate mining agreements they say failed to benefit the population.
Niger is among the world’s leading uranium producers and has historically been a critical supplier to Western energy markets. Before the coup, it was also a major security and economic partner for Europe and the United States in the Sahel region.
As Niger consolidates state control over strategic assets, the move against Orano signals a decisive break with the country’s past mining arrangements — and adds to growing uncertainty over the future of foreign investment in the Sahel.
